Counter-stiffen er



(No Model) E, BRAZIER. COUNTER STIPPENER. i

No. 485,604. Patented Nov. 8, 1892.

awowttoz- I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. A

EDWIN BRAZIER, OF NORTH TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO ELEANOR J BRAZIERAND MARY B. WATT, OF SAME PLACE, AND THOMAS E. PEAOOOK,

OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

COUNTER-STIFFENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,604, dated November8, 1892.

Application filed January 26, 1392.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN BRAZIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at North Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Boot or Shoe CounterStiffeners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in to boot or shoe counterstifieners in which the stiffener is formed of metal-preferably ofsheet-steel-and the upturn is formed of leather, rubber, or any otherlike fabric, the two parts being fastened together in the pe- I 5 culiarmanner hereinafter described; and the object of my invention is tofurnish and provide a cheap, durable, easy, efficient, and serviceablecounter-stifiener.

The cheaper stilfeners heretofore put upon the market are those in whichglue forms a large part of the stiffening composition and are notdurable or serviceable. Upon becoming wet they soften and break down.There are also metal stiffeners; but the sharp lower edge, pressing uponthe upper of the boot or shoe where it turns under to engage the insole,cuts the leather and fails as a cheap and efficient stiffener. Its sharpupper edge also cuts the upper and the lining, raising a fur o therserious objection to their use. These objections and many others Iobviate by the peculiar construction of my counterstiffener, which isconstructed and formed as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

5 which Figure I shows the metal part of my stiffener before forming.Fig. II shows the leather part ready to be joined to the metal. Fig. IIIshows the two parts united and formed ready for use in the boot or shoe.Fig. IV is a bottom view showing the serrated seat upon which theleather rests.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 is the metallic sheet which forms the stiffener, having its lower edgeserrated.

Serial No. 419,323- (No model.)

The alternate serrations 2 2 2, &c., turning in at right angles to thesheet, form the seat or rest upon which rests the upturn of the leather7. The alternate serrations 3 3 3, &c., passing through the slits 8 8 8,850., near the edge of the leather, rubber, or fabric on the line of theangle of the upturn, are pressed up and back, pressing and binding theleather, rubber, or fabric firmly to and against the face of themetallic sheet. When the counter is formed by bending the sheet, withthe leather, rubber, or fabric, to the desired curve, the notches 9 9 9in the upturn relieve the fullness in the material and prevent bulgingand makes a smooth bottom on which the insole rests.

5 5 5 are notches (one or more) with the extensions 6 6 6 cut deeper toregulate the stiffness of the metallic sheet to any desired graduation.

4 is a bead on the upper edge of the metallic sheet to obviate thedifficulty of a sharp metallic edge cutting the upper and the lining.

The sheet may be made with or without the bead l and the notches andextensions 5 and 6, as may be desired. It will also be ob served thatwhen the upper is drawn under the counter and secured through the upturnof 7 there is no sharp metallic edge presented to out and destroy it,the serrations 2 2, &c., and 3 3, &c., presenting a rounded or flatsurface of pressure. It is thus, it is believed, a very great andvery'desirable improvement in counter-stiffeners is effected and a cheapand durable stiffener is obtained which meets and removes many if notall Ohjections.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A counter-stiffener for boots and shoes, consisting of a metalliccount-er having the inwardly-projecting segments and the up- 0wardly-projecting segments and the leather upturn seated on theinwardly-projecting seginents having slits through which the uptheleather upturn secured to the counter by wardlyprojecting segmentsextend, substanmeans of the alternate segments 3 3, substan- IO tiallyas described. tially as shown and described.

2. A counter-stiffener for boots and shoes, EDWIN BRAZIER 5 consistingof a metallic counter having its upper edge headed and notched and aseg- Witnesses: mental lower edge, the inturned alternate J. G.CAMPBELL, segments providing a seat for the upturn and THOS. ARCHER.

